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Pools Pay Penalty Again At The Vic

Pools lost out to a strong Bournemouth outfit on a cold night at Victoria Park.

After pulling level through Jack Baldwin with his first goal for Pools, Hughes’ men conceded what was their sixth penalty in consecutive home matches and the visitors scored from the spot to take the win.

There was an early change for Pools as Antony Sweeney limped off after just five minutes of the game to be replaced by Jack Baldwin who took up a central midfield role.

Bournemouth came into the game at full speed, setting a high tempo and really forcing Pools back.

There was an early chance for the visitors to take the lead as Lewis Grabban picked up the ball on the penalty spot from a right-wing corner to shoot on goal but his effort went high when a goal looked likely.

With Pools pegged back into their own half, there was another chance for Bournemouth as Tommy Elphick met another corner to head at goal but again he missed the target.

While Eddie Howe’s men did dominate possession, Pools did have a couple of chances to steal the lead; Charlie Wyke sent an effort wide after good work by Evan Horwood and Jonathan Franks was denied by a great save from Shwan Jalal after picking up a lovely ball from Baldwin.

With 28 minutes on the clock though, Bournemouth took the lead they had been threatening. A good cross in from Eunan O’Kane on the right found Josh McQuoid rising in the area and he opened the scoring with a powerful header past Scott Flinders.

Evan Horwood put a great challenge in to clear a dangerous ball into the area by Grabban, while Pugh also tested Flinders’ goal with a strike from distance.

Ritchie Humphreys could well have drawn Pools level just before the break when he arrived to meet a Franks cross inside the area but the midfielder sent his glancing header wide of target.

So Hughes’ side went into the break with work to be done if they were to get anything from a game that the visitors had dominated so far.

And the break seemed to work wonders as, with 50 minutes played, Pools bounced back to grab an equaliser; an Evan Horwood freekick from deep sailed into the area, catching Jalal off-guard and, after a touch from the keeper, Jack Baldwin threw himself bravely at the effort to equalise with his first goal for the Club.

The youngster ended up in a heap in the back of the net for his troubles but his bravery gave Pools just the boost they needed – both on the pitch and in the stands.

But with Pools looking brighter, once again a penalty kick was awarded against Hughes’ side – the sixth in consecutive home games – as Sam Collins challenged O'Kane inside the area.

Grabban stepped up to take the kick and sent Flinders the wrong way to make it 2-1.

The goal took the sting out of the game for a spell as Bournemouth dug in looking to extend their lead – despite their pressure though, they still just failed to capitalise in the final third.

Pools had a chance at the other end as a Franks cross into the area was met by Steve Howard in the air but his header went wide. The big striker was then denied by Jalal as he sent a decent snapshot at goal from close range.

The shot though was the last of the action for Howard who pulled up holding his hamstring afterwards and was replaced by Andy Monkhouse.

Jonathan Franks was brightest for Pools as he plugged away in the final third but there was to be no equaliser this evening and the game finished 2-1 to the Cherries.